Survey: Crypto Exchanges Want Regulation but See Strict Policies as a Threat

The majority of crypto exchanges want to see the industry regulated, although many consider excessive regulation to be the biggest threat, according to a new study. A third of the platforms in the poll also fear a market crash that could suddenly devalue digital assets. A fifth of the exchanges dislike anonymity.

Crypto Exchanges Want Regulation

A new study reveals that a sizable majority of crypto exchanges, 88%, would like to see regulation in place that can help the rapidly developing industry mature, and a third of the companies trading coins say the greatest threat comes from the perceived criminality of the sector. 17% of the polled platforms, however, believe overly strict regulation is the biggest threat to cryptocurrency and its wider adoption. Another 40% say lifting the barriers to funding crypto activities by banks will improve the acceptance of cryptocurrencies.

The survey has been conducted by a Lithuania-based payment company, Mistertango, which has contacted 24 exchanges across Europe, Asia, South America and Oceania, with a total daily trading volume of over $100M USD. The authors have attempted to assess the attitudes towards regulation, anonymity and the maturation of the crypto market. Gabrielius Bilkštys, Business Manager at Mistertango, commented that “The industry is crying out for regulation and the response from partners has shown this”. He also said:

Uncertainty is the biggest fear, and regulation is critical to provide the stability we need. Unfortunately, there is no regulatory consensus – worldwide or otherwise. For cryptocurrencies to move towards the scale and ubiquity possessed by fiat currency, it needs cohesive, considered and comprehensive regulation. Thus, regulation will be a catalyst, not an inhibitor to the crypto market’s development.

According to Oleksandr Lutskevych, CEO of crypto exchange CEX.IO, the assumption that crypto companies want to avoid a regulated environment is far from the truth. Quoted in a press release, he noted that “Until now, the industry has not had its say on regulation […] The industry is all too aware that regulation will lead to the maturity of the market and ensure businesses remain free from suspicion of involvement with illegitimate uses of cryptocurrency.”

A Call for Banks to Lift Barriers

At the same time, a very import development that crypto companies would like to see is a change in the attitudes of the traditional financial institutions. Almost 40% of the participants in the study have suggested that this would have the biggest impact on the wider acceptance of cryptocurrency, followed by about 30% who gave priority to increased but also positive regulation.

A key finding in the poll is that trading platforms generally favor the implementation of know your customer and anti-money laundering policies, despite the fact that precisely anonymity has drawn a lot of people to the crypto space. 55% of the questioned exchanges said crypto users should be subject to KYC and AML checks, similar to those employed by the providers of traditional financial services. A fifth of the respondents said that anonymity and the lack of transparency was the biggest threat.

Another important figure in the survey shows that a third of the respondents fear a significant crypto market crash that could unexpectedly devalue cryptocurrencies. They consider the possibility of such an event to be the major threat for the industry and the space, in general.

What are your thoughts on the findings in the study? Let us know in the comments section below.

Images courtesy of Shutterstock.

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Lubomir Tassev

Lubomir Tassev is a journalist from tech-savvy Bulgaria, which sometimes finds itself at the forefront of advances it cannot easily afford. Quoting Hitchens, he says: ”Being a writer is what I am, rather than what I do.“ International politics and economics are two other sources of inspiration.

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